wind energyNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94wind energyThu, 01 Dec 2016 00:46:01 +0000wind energyhttp://hppr.org
Jonathan Baker As wind energy becomes more economically viable in Oklahoma, momentum is building on a political movement to limit tax breaks to wind farms in the state. As StateImpact reports, last week a panel that decides Oklahoma’s tax incentives decided to curb the credits being given to wind operations. The Incentive Review Commission has reported on ten different wind incentives under review this year. Collectively, those incentives reduce the amount of money the state takes in each year by about $150 million. That’s no small matter for a state that’s currently over $600 million in the hole. The wind industry is pushing back against the recommendations to curb their tax breaks. Lance Brown works with the Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy. He said the alliance’s position has been that the state government should encourage wind projects in areas where they work best, “and they work very well in Oklahoma.” Oklahoma Moves to Curb Tax Breaks for Wind Farmshttp://hppr.org/post/oklahoma-moves-curb-tax-breaks-wind-farms
69638 as http://hppr.orgTue, 29 Nov 2016 12:50:00 +0000Oklahoma Moves to Curb Tax Breaks for Wind FarmsAngie Haflich A Microsoft data center’s electricity will be powered by a wind farm being constructed in western Kansas. As the Hutchinson News reports, the Bloom Wind Project is located about 20 miles south of Dodge City on 15,000 acres of land in Ford and Clark Counties and once completed, will supply a Microsoft data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming with 178 megawatts of power, the wind farm’s total output, which will be coupled with 59 megawatts of power generated by the Happy Jack and Silver Sage wind farms in Wyoming. Microsoft recently signed a 10-year contract to purchase the energy generated by the Bloom Wind Project in order to lock in a long-term rate, according to Hutch News, and the energy will be used to run computer servers at the data center. The contract is actually between Capital Power and international insurance group Allianz Risk and Microsoft entered into a contract with Allianz to purchase the power. Alberta, Canada-based Capital Power owns the wind project and according to theWestern Kansas wind farm to power Microsoft data centerhttp://hppr.org/post/western-kansas-wind-farm-power-microsoft-data-center
69734 as http://hppr.orgTue, 29 Nov 2016 10:01:00 +0000Western Kansas wind farm to power Microsoft data centerJonathan Baker Wind energy is booming in Colorado, reports the Denver Business Journal. In fact, 14 percent of the state’s power now comes from wind, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy. And the Centennial State isn’t alone; wind power is surging in many parts of the country. Colorado is one of 11 states across the country that now get at least 10 percent of their total electricity from wind farms. Compare that with ten years ago, when there were only three such states. Iowa is the nation’s wind leader, with 31 percent of the state’s power being derived from wind farms. And Texas isn’t far behind, with almost a quarter of that state’s energy coming from wind. Things don’t appear to be slowing down, either. The percentage of wind-based power in the United States has risen every year since 2001. Colorado Sees a Boom in Wind Energyhttp://hppr.org/post/colorado-sees-boom-wind-energy
68559 as http://hppr.orgTue, 01 Nov 2016 14:50:00 +0000Colorado Sees a Boom in Wind EnergyJonathan Baker Amazon has plans to invest in a massive Texas wind farm, according to FuelFix. The Seattle-based online retail giant is teaming up with Chicago’s Lincoln Clean Energy to build a 250-megawatt wind farm in Scurry County, west of Abilene. The company plans to begin operations in 2017. The wind farm will feature 100 wind turbines which will power Amazon’s Texas’ facilities, with the leftover energy feeding into the overall state grid. Amazon’s partner, Chicago-based Lincoln, is developing other Texas wind projects as well. The company plans a 200-megawatt wind project north of Abilene and another 200-megawatt wind farms near Wichita Falls. However, Lincoln’s 200-megawatt Nazareth Solar project in the Texas Panhandle has faced repeated delays. Lincoln previously developed and sold the Hereford and Jumbo Road wind farms. Amazon to Build Huge Wind Farm in West Texashttp://hppr.org/post/amazon-build-huge-wind-farm-west-texas
66964 as http://hppr.orgTue, 20 Sep 2016 10:46:00 +0000Amazon to Build Huge Wind Farm in West TexasJonathan Baker Texas has added more wind-based capacity than any other state, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. The Lone Star state still embraces its oil and gas, and Texas has garnered many headlines leading role in the fracking revolution. But the state has also quietly been becoming a renewable energy powerhouse. As of April, wind turbines accounted for 16% of the state’s electrical generating capacity. And Texas is now also anticipating a huge surge in solar power. Perhaps most impressively, Texas has largely managed to stay above the political fray on this subject. While debates rage over climate change, Texas has worked within the state’s free-market-based electricity system. And in the process, it has built a successful renewable energy program. Federal renewable energy subsidies are expected to decline in coming years. Even so, state officials say wind and solar will play a significant role in the state’s energy future. Texas, an Oil Behemoth, Now a Wind and Solar Powerhouse Too http://hppr.org/post/texas-oil-behemoth-now-wind-and-solar-powerhouse-too
66274 as http://hppr.orgWed, 31 Aug 2016 11:13:00 +0000Texas, an Oil Behemoth, Now a Wind and Solar Powerhouse Too Jonathan BakerThe world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer is coming to Texas, reports FuelFix.com. China-based Goldwind is planning to establish what will be its largest wind farm in the US, and has chosen the Lone Star State as the location. Goldwind is growing rapidly. The company just surpassed Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems as the world’s top wind turbine supplier. Germany’s Siemens and General Electric round out the top four wind companies. The Chinese organization bought the developing Rattlesnake Wind Project from a UK company for an undisclosed sum. The site is 125 miles northwest of Austin. Goldwind appears to be interested in spreading its operation further throughout Texas. For years Texas has led the nation in wind power by a good margin. In fact, Texas is drawing so much wind energy lately that the state’s grid routinely sees negative power prices overnight when there’s little demand for electricity. World's Top Turbine Manufacturer Coming to Texashttp://hppr.org/post/worlds-top-turbine-manufacturer-coming-texas
61870 as http://hppr.orgFri, 20 May 2016 12:48:00 +0000World's Top Turbine Manufacturer Coming to TexasJonathan Baker A wind turbine east of Lamar, Colorado, went offline last week, reports The Prowers Journal. The culprit? Metal shavings. Repairs are expected to cost about $300,000. General wear and tear on a turbine’s gearbox can cause metal shavings to be picked up in the filter. This is normal, and happens as a matter of course. But sometimes pieces are larger—as big as the tip of a finger—and they can hook into the gears. This causes torque pressure on the gears from the turbine blades. Turbines must then go off-line to avoid further damage. Insurance doesn’t cover wear and tear of parts, and there’s no insurance for downed power time. This isn’t the first time metal shaving problems have shut down the wind turbines east of Lamar. The light plant has a fund for gearbox replacement costs. “We know this will happen from time to time, so we’re prepared for it,” the turbine’s superintendent said. Metal Shavings: The Bugbear of Wind Turbineshttp://hppr.org/post/metal-shavings-bugbear-wind-turbines
61787 as http://hppr.orgWed, 18 May 2016 10:23:00 +0000Metal Shavings: The Bugbear of Wind TurbinesJonathan BakerOklahoma continues to support wind-generated electricity. But, as StateImpact Oklahoma reports, that support is drawing criticism as the state’s budget balloons and crude prices remain at historically low levels. Most of the critics are lined up behind oil billionaire and Continental Resources founder and CEO Harold Hamm. They want to kill wind incentives and impose a production tax like the one oil and gas companies pay. But wind energy proponents say the incentives are essential, and effective. Still, these incentives are using up a growing share of the state’s tax revenue. And there’s insufficient evidence as yet to determine how effective these incentives will be in the long run—both for the state’s economy and the environment. Economists from Oklahoma State University concede that more study is needed. In the meantime, the question remains whether this money should continue to go to wind farms, or would it be more effective going to the state’s schools and hospitals. Should Oklahoma Continue to Fund Wind Energy?http://hppr.org/post/should-oklahoma-continue-fund-wind-energy
61231 as http://hppr.orgWed, 04 May 2016 13:18:00 +0000Should Oklahoma Continue to Fund Wind Energy?Jonathan Baker Citizens of El Paso County in Colorado have grown increasingly concerned about the presence of wind turbines in the area, reports The Gazette. County residents have accused the local energy company, NextEra, of causing various health problems. Complaints include headaches, nausea and dizziness, as well as inaudible, low-frequency sound waves known as infrasound, and a phenomenon known as shadow flicker. They also say their chickens have stopped laying eggs, and even attest that the turbines are responsible for the death of a horse. The grievances resulted in a lawsuit last year, which has since been dismissed. “Just the spinning all the time makes me sick to my stomach,” said one local woman. An El Paso County spokesman, said in an email that many of the claims “are undeniably false.” Colorado Residents Say Wind Farms Are Making Them Sickhttp://hppr.org/post/colorado-residents-say-wind-farms-are-making-them-sick
60710 as http://hppr.orgThu, 21 Apr 2016 00:06:00 +0000Colorado Residents Say Wind Farms Are Making Them SickJonathan BakerWind farms continue to pump out millions of dollars’ worth of renewable energy in Colorado. But, as the Denver Post reports, turbines are also big business for landowners these days. Colorado landowners received $9 million in lease payments from wind companies last year. And all this wind energy couldn’t have come at a better time for rural High Plains residents. Oil and gas profits have dwindled, and slumping commodity prices have cut into farm and ranch incomes. Turning the wind into dollars has resulted in a welcome reprieve for many rural areas. That’s because turbines tend to be located on lower-yielding agricultural plots. And while they require periodic maintenance, once running, turbines are much less disruptive than petroleum wells or solar arrays. For the most part, they’re self-sustaining. Nationwide, wind farms paid out almost a quarter of a billion dollars in lease payments last year. And Colorado is in the top ten when it comes to wind leases, though the state doesn’tWind Leases Are Big Business on the High Plainshttp://hppr.org/post/wind-leases-are-big-business-high-plains
59840 as http://hppr.orgFri, 01 Apr 2016 12:41:00 +0000Wind Leases Are Big Business on the High PlainsJonathan Baker The US Department of Energy approved a project last week that would ship renewable energy directly from Oklahoma’s panhandle to cities in the southeastern United States. The Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise reports that the 700-mile Plains and Eastern Clean Line project was okayed by the feds last Friday. The electricity transmission line will cross 14 Oklahoma counties before passing through Arkansas and ending north of Memphis, Tennessee. The $2.5 billion clean line project is privately funded, and no taxpayer dollars will go toward the endeavor. The transmission line will take energy produced by Western Oklahoma’s wind farms and deliver about 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the South. That’s enough energy to power more than 1 million homes and represents four times the electricity produced by the Hoover Dam. Construction will start late next year, with completion by expected by 2020. Transmission Line Will Pump Oklahoma Panhandle Energy to the Southhttp://hppr.org/post/transmission-line-will-pump-oklahoma-panhandle-energy-south
59756 as http://hppr.orgTue, 29 Mar 2016 14:13:00 +0000Transmission Line Will Pump Oklahoma Panhandle Energy to the SouthJonathan BakerWind power is now cheaper than dirtier, conventional power.” The implication is that wind energy is now cheaper than coal and gas power nationwide. But that’s not exactly right, reports The Rural Blog. In most of the nation, traditional power sources are still cheaper, if only slightly. But Obama was right to mention Iowa and Texas. In those states, wind power is in fact cheaper. That’s due in large part to the sheer windiness of the two states. Developers there are finding ways to take greater advantage of the strong winds with newer, larger wind turbines. But Obama’s statement will most likely soon hold true. Fossil fuel costs are rising, while wind costs are lowering. If the price trends continue, wind power will be cheaper than fossil fuel energy in the next 10 years—even without government subsidies. Wind Power Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels? Almost, but Not Yethttp://hppr.org/post/wind-power-cheaper-fossil-fuels-almost-not-yet
57144 as http://hppr.orgFri, 29 Jan 2016 08:46:00 +0000Wind Power Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels? Almost, but Not YetJonathan BakerTexas wind farms are generating so much energy that some utilities are giving power away, reports the New York Times. TXU Energy is making a bold attempt to change the way Texans consume energy. The utility’s free overnight plan encourages customers to use less energy when wholesale prices are highest and use more when prices are lowest—after 9 pm. The plan comes with slightly higher daytime rates. Texas has more wind power than any other state. Roughly 10 percent of the state’s power comes from wind. The issue is, Texas runs its own electricity grid that barely connects to the rest of the country. So the wind power generated at night must be consumed here in the Lone Star State. But wind is the strongest at night, when the fewest people are using energy. Hence TXU’s plan. One Texas Utility Company Offers Free Nighttime Electricityhttp://hppr.org/post/one-texas-utility-company-offers-free-nighttime-electricity
54185 as http://hppr.orgFri, 13 Nov 2015 23:34:00 +0000One Texas Utility Company Offers Free Nighttime ElectricityJonathan Baker More wind power is headed to the High Plains. A Spanish steel company has announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in the Texas panhandle, according to the Houston Chronicle. GRI Renewable Industries said it intends to build a wind tower plant in Amarillo that would employ 300 people and build 400 towers a year. Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state is offering a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $1.85 million to the company. Tax incentive details are still being worked out with the Economic Development Corporation of Amarillo. The company currently has manufacturing plants in Spain, Brazil, China, Turkey, India and South Africa that manufacture and supply wind towers to the global wind energy industry. The plant is expected to be operational by late 2016. Spanish Company to Build Wind Tower Manufacturing Plant in Amarillohttp://hppr.org/post/spanish-company-build-wind-tower-manufacturing-plant-amarillo
48455 as http://hppr.orgSun, 28 Jun 2015 23:05:00 +0000Spanish Company to Build Wind Tower Manufacturing Plant in AmarilloCarol HillendahlThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the grid for 24 million Texans, nearly doubled from 2009 to 2014. Wind power was responsible for over 10% of the electricity for Texas in 2014, that is up from 9.9 in 2013 and 6.2 in 2009 as per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Currently, Texas has more than 12 gigawatts of wind power capacity installed across the state — equivalent to six Hoover Dams. That figure could jump to 20 gigawatts in a few years with upgrades to the current transmission system, according to Ross Baldick, an engineering professor at University of Texas at Austin, According to reporter Roger Real Drouin of Yale Environment 360. For the rest of the story click here. Government Policies Propel Texas to the Forefront of Wind Energy Generation.http://hppr.org/post/government-policies-propel-texas-forefront-wind-energy-generation
45516 as http://hppr.orgTue, 14 Apr 2015 09:15:00 +0000Government Policies Propel Texas to the Forefront of Wind Energy Generation.Cindee Talley Texas Panhandle commissioners agreed to give a big tax break to Chermac Energy reports the Amarillo Globe-News. Randall County commissioners recently voted to allow the proposed wind farm to pay about half of what it would in property taxes over the next ten years. Chermac Energy gets a 100 percent tax abatement in exchange for paying $3.4 million over the same ten year period. A couple more steps have to be taken before the decision is final. The county has to send notification of the agreement to other taxing entities, and then a final vote will be held. Randall County commissioners vote to give wind farm significant tax breakhttp://hppr.org/post/randall-county-commissioners-vote-give-wind-farm-significant-tax-break
42088 as http://hppr.orgWed, 21 Jan 2015 06:00:01 +0000Randall County commissioners vote to give wind farm significant tax breakJoe Wertz The cost of producing and providing electricity generated by solar panels and wind turbines has plunged in recent years, and are on track to meet — and in some markets are already beating — the generation costs of conventional sources like coal and natural gas. Price parity has been a “long-held dream” of the solar and wind industries, The New York Times‘ Diane Cardwell reports. And alternative energy is proving competitive to conventional energy sources — especially in Oklahoma: In September, the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma announced its approval of a new agreement to buy power from a new wind farm expected to be completed next year. Grand River estimated the deal would save its customers roughly $50 million from the project. And, also in Oklahoma, American Electric Power ended up tripling the amount of wind power it had originally sought after seeing how low the bids came in last year. “Wind was on sale — it was a Blue Light Special,” said Jay Godfrey, managing director of‘Blue Light Special’ on wind power in Oklahomahttp://hppr.org/post/blue-light-special-wind-power-oklahoma
39936 as http://hppr.orgFri, 28 Nov 2014 06:00:01 +0000‘Blue Light Special’ on wind power in OklahomaCindee Talley The newest Texas Panhandle wind farm just began operation, and two more projects have just signed interconnection agreements. The total cost of the pair will be about $900 million according to a recent article from the Amarillo Globe-News. Texas Panhandle: Wind farm expansion continues to the tune of $900 millionhttp://hppr.org/post/texas-panhandle-wind-farm-expansion-continues-tune-900-million
37978 as http://hppr.orgTue, 07 Oct 2014 21:37:51 +0000Texas Panhandle: Wind farm expansion continues to the tune of $900 millionCindee Talley Pattern Energy is moving components from Hutchinson and Abilene, Kansas, as well as Iowa, to the Texas Panhandle. Sections of towers that hold the large blades in the air and the narcelles that hold the equipment that makes electricity from the turning blades are transported by trucks pulling specially built trailers. The components are headed for two projects located north of Amarillo. On the roads: Trucks transporting wind farm parts from Kansas and Iowa to the Texas Panhandlehttp://hppr.org/post/roads-trucks-transporting-wind-farm-parts-kansas-and-iowa-texas-panhandle
29596 as http://hppr.orgWed, 26 Mar 2014 05:00:03 +0000On the roads: Trucks transporting wind farm parts from Kansas and Iowa to the Texas PanhandleCindee Talley A new study by the University of Texas at San Antonio found that placing wind turbines too closely together in a wind farm causes turbulence that reduces productivity according to a recent article by StateImpact Texas. New study reveals wind turbine placement could reduce yield http://hppr.org/post/new-study-reveals-wind-turbine-placement-could-reduce-yield
28946 as http://hppr.orgWed, 12 Mar 2014 05:00:04 +0000New study reveals wind turbine placement could reduce yield